title: Generation of labeled probes by PCR.
abstract: Nucleic acid probes are an important tool in molecular diagnosis. To facilitate the detection of hybridized probes, they are labeled with a reporter molecule, which is usually a radioisotope. For diagnostic techniques carried out in a clinical laboratory, radioisotopes are hazardous and, thus, recently there is a move to use nonisotopic labels, such as biotin and digoxigenin. Nonisotopic probes also have the advantage of much better stability over time compared with isotopic probes that have limited half-lives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR.
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: An